Multiple rail adapter

ABSTRACT

Multiple rail adapter system which enables the M-16 and AR-15 family of rifles or carbines fitted with “Picatinny” mounting rail, commonly referred to as a “Flat Top” receiver, to support multiple sighting accessory devices such as optical sights, fixed sights, flash lights and laser sights effectively without any changes or modifications to the weapon.

REFERENCES CITED [REFERENCE BY]

[0001] U.S. Pat. Documents 4707772 November 1987 Jimenez 362/110 5134798 August 1992 Lee 42/100 5590484 January 1997 Mooney 42/1115826363 October 1998 Olson   42/75.01 5941489 August 1999 Fanelli 248/298.1 6295754 October 2001 Otteman 42/124

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to mounting adapters for rifles.More specifically, the present invention relates to an adapter mount forsupporting multiple sighting devices simultaneously on the “Flat Top”versions of the M-16 and AR-15 family of rifle and carbines.

[0004] 2. Discussion of Background

[0005] The increasing need for sophisticated and multifunctionalfirearms, in particular the M-16 and AR-15 family of firearms, hascreated a requirement that the firearms be able to accommodate varioussighting accessories such as infrared and night vision scopes, laserspotters and similar devices. In the past, the Art has developed systemsthat required changes and modification to the firearms upon which theyare to be installed. The following summarizes the state of the currentart.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,484 requires the removal of the originalhandguards, barrel nut, gas block and the carrying handle is machinedoff to provide mounting of a multiple rail adapter.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,363 requires the removal of the originalhandguards to provide mounting of a rail adapter system.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,754 relates to a telescopic sight with asingle integral mounting feature to mount auxiliary equipment on thetelescopic sight.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,489 is a T-rail that can be mounted to astandard mounting rail on a weapon. The T-rail has a single upperPicatinny rail that extends along the top of the T-rail and an extensionthat extends perpendicularly therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is a multiple rail adapter utilizing the“Picatinny” rail system for attaching to the M16 and AR15 type rifle orcarbine receiver. The multiple rail adapter provides two “Picatinny”type-mounting rails for support of accessory devices that enhance theoperational capabilities of the weapon. The multiple rail adapterconsists of a primary accessory rail and a secondary accessory rail.

[0011] The primary accessory rail is located above the rifle or carbinereceiver rail and has a centerline plane that runs parallel with alongitudinal plane of the rifle or carbine that said adapter would beinstalled upon.

[0012] A secondary accessory rail with a centerline plane pivoted in a45-degree counterclockwise direction when viewing the weapon with themuzzle pointing away from the weapon holder and with same saidcenterline plane running longitudinally along centerline plane of rifleor carbine.

[0013] Installation of the multiple rail adapter is accomplished byaligning the positioning groove of the multiple rail adapter with theright side protrusion of the “Picatinny” rail of the weapon. Themultiple rail adapter is then pivoted in the direction of the weaponreceiver until the bottom of the multiple rail adapter contacts the topof the “Pictanny” rail of the weapon.

[0014] The mounting rail adapter is positioned fore or aft to a pointthat best suits the accessory sighting device and weapon holder and theclamping bolts are positioned directly above the recoil grooves on theweapon provided by the “Pictanny rail”.

[0015] Locking the multiple rail adapter to the weapon is accomplishedby rotating the clamping nuts clockwise, when viewed from right side,forcing the clamping bar inward until the surfaces on the clamping barcontact the surface on the “Pictanny” rail of the weapon and contactsurface of the adapter. This creates a clamping action thus providing astable and solid assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In the following drawings,

[0017]FIG. 1 is a left side perspective view of the multiple railadapter mounted on a M16 or AR15 carbine.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a right side perspective view of the multiple railadapter mounted on a M16 or AR15 carbine.

[0019]FIG. 3 is a top view of the multiple rail adapter system.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a left side view of the multiple rail adapter system.

[0021]FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

[0022]FIG. 6 is a front view of the multiple rail adapter.

[0023]FIG. 7 is a right side view of the multiple rail adapter.

[0024]FIG. 8 is a left side perspective of the multiple rail adapterunmounted.

[0025]FIG. 9 is a right side perspective of the multiple rail adaptermounted from which the enlarged view shown in FIG. 10 is taken.

[0026]FIG. 10 is a right side enlarged view showing the multiple railadapter mounted to weapon.

[0027]FIG. 11 is a left side perspective of the multiple rail adaptermounted from which the enlarged view shown in FIG. 12 is taken.

[0028]FIG. 12 is a left side enlarged view showing the multiple railadapter mounted to weapon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the present inventionillustrates a multiple rail adapter 1 mounted to a “flat top” carbine 6of the M16 & AR-15 family of weapons utilizing the “Picatinny” railsystem.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 12, the multiple rail adapter 1 provides apositioning groove 7 and a clamping groove 8 shown in FIG. 10.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 8, 10 & 12, the two “Picatinny” type mountingrails 13 & 14 support accessory devices that enhance the operationalcapabilities of the weapon. The mounting rail 13 is the primaryaccessory rail and the mounting rail 14 is the secondary accessory rail.

[0032] With particular reference to FIG. 12, installation of themultiple rail adapter 1 is accomplished by aligning the positioninggroove 7 with the left side protrusion of the “Picatinny” rail 9 of theweapon 6.

[0033] The mounting rail adapter 1 is positioned fore or aft to a pointthat best suits the accessory sighting device and weapon holder and thelocking bolts 5 are positioned directly above the recoil grooves 11 onthe weapon 6 provided by the “Pictanny” rail 9.

[0034] Per FIG. 10, locking the multiple rail adapter 1 to the weapon 6is accomplished by rotating the locking nuts 4 clockwise, when viewedfrom right side, causing the clamping bar 3 to travel inward creating ainterference fit with the “Pictanny” rail 9 of the weapon. Thisinterference fit provides a stable and solid assembly.

[0035] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes andmodifications can be made to the preferred embodiment herein describedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention asdefined by the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. The multiple rail adapter as recited in claim 1, requires nomodification to rifle or carbine upon which it will be installed.
 2. Themultiple rail adapter as recited in claim 1, comprises a body andclamping bar made of lightweight aluminum alloy extrusion, clampingbolts and clamping nuts made of steel.
 3. The mounting rail adapterprovides two “Picatinny” type mounting rails for the installation ofmultiple sighting devices. The primary accessory rail is located abovethe rifle or carbine receiver rail and has a centerline plane that runsparallel with a longitudinal plane of the rifle or carbine that saidadapter would be installed upon. A secondary accessory rail ispositioned with a centerline plane pivoted in a 45-degreecounterclockwise direction when viewing the weapon with the muzzlepointing away from the weapon holder and with same said centerline planerunning longitudinally with centerline plane of rifle or carbine.